My first time in a wedding party would be my last. I was only 12 when my uncle married his girlfriend of more than 10 years but being a part of the wedding party was more than enough to sour me to such events. From the length of time it took her to pick out our dresses, 6 months… we only received them 2 days before the wedding, to the dresses themselves… full length black and white Victorian dresses in August, it was 90º and humid! If the dresses weren’t enough, she insisted we all buy and wear real pearl chokers and even the youngest members of the bridal party had to wear full makeup, which after about 5 minutes in the heat felt like wax melting down your face! I swore then I would never take part in a wedding again unless I was the bride. Now at 25, I have not participated in any other weddings and I am not even sure I’d want to go through such things for my own nuptials. — Ashley